Media Release – Risdon Privacy Breach

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called on the Government to refer the Risdon Privacy Breach matter to the Integrity Commissioner.

Ms Webb said Tasmania Police’s appointment of former Solicitor General Michael Farrell to investigate the matter was inappropriate.

“Firstly, as the Attorney-General is made aware of warrants issued for the use of listening devices by police, was the then-Minister made aware of a technical breach of the warrant issued in 2017?” Ms Webb asked.

“Mr Farrell is obviously an eminent lawyer. However, as Solicitor General in 2017, Mr O’Farrell defended the actions of Tasmania Police in relation to the Sue Neill-Fraser case.

“Tasmania Police engaged in an egregious breach of privacy and legal confidentiality by the surveillance operation related to the Neill-Fraser case that has now been exposed.”

Ms Webb said in the public mind there could be a perception of conflict of interest, due to Mr Farrell’s role as Solicitor General when these matters were occurring.

“This is a further disturbing insight into this Government’s disdain for true transparency. It is not good enough for the Government to dodge responsibility on this.

“The breach of privacy perpetrated by Tasmania Police occurred on this Government’s watch, under warrants authorised and issued under legislation for which the Attorney-General is responsible.”

Ms Webb said Tasmanians deserve to know what happened, including what the Attorney General and her predecessors knew on this matter and when.

“The Attorney-General must recognise that to deliver true transparency there must be no possible perception of conflict of interest and persons undertaking the investigation must have no existing connections to the matters under investigation.”

Ms Webb said, unsurprisingly, the Government wants to make itself a small target.

“But any whiff of closing ranks like this actively erodes the public trust and confidence this Liberal Government purports to care about.

“That is why I am calling on Government to deliver true transparency and restore public confidence with an investigation by the Integrity Commission.

“They could alternatively establish a genuinely at-arms-length independent inquiry, conducted by an appropriately qualified interstate legal expert.”

Ms Webb said any investigation cannot be confined to only the procedures of Tasmania Police.

“It should also examine whether the currents Acts governing surveillance warrants have loopholes and need to be strengthened.

“These Acts are the responsibility of the Attorney General and we would expect to see her give the highest priority to ensuring their integrity.”

Media Contact: A.Mark Thomas, M&M Communications, 0422 006 732